Effect of castor, Ricinus communis L. and banyan, Ficus benghalensis L. plants on economic traits of eri silkworm, Samia ricini Donovan (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

• Published in: International journal of tropical insect science Vol. 43; no. 1; pp. 217 - 224
• Main Authors: Das, Tamal, Kalita, Dipika, Das, Manika
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.02.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cocoons; Economics; Entomology; Ficus benghalensis; Food plants; Host plants; Leaves; Life Sciences; Original Research Article; Ricinus communis; Samia cynthia ricini; Silkworms; Pupa; Cocoon; Erisilkworm; Castor; Banyan; Host plant
• ISSN: 1742-7592; 1742-7584; 1742-7592
• DOI: 10.1007/s42690-022-00919-y

The present study was conducted in 2020 at Bhattadev University, Bajali, Assam, India to evaluate the effects of castor, Ricinus communis L. and an alternative host plant, Ficus benghalensis L., on the morpho-economic traits of the Eri silkworm, Samia ricini Donovan and to identify the suitable host plant. During this study, all the larval, cocoon parameters were recorded and all the data were statistically analysed by using student t- test at p < 0.05 level in SPSS software (version 26). The result of the present study reveals that commercial characteristics such as mature larval weight (g), Cocoon weight(g), pupal weight (g), shell weight(g), shell ratio%, ERR% was found to be highest in Castor (8.74 ± 0.39 g, 3.45 ± 0.12 g, 2.89 ± 0.12 g, 0.52 ± 0.01 g, 15.43 ± 0.80%, 76%) than banyan (6.28 ± 0.11 g, 1.95 ± 0.03 g, 1.69 ± 0.03 g, 0.24 ± 0.01 g, 12.57 ± 0.77%, 60%). Significant differences at 5% level were recorded concerning the Larval duration (days), Larval weight(g), pupal weight(g), cocoon weight(g), shell weight(g), shell ratio %. Thus the present study reveals that erisilkworm reared on the leaves of castor showed superiority than banyan. But castor plant is not available throughout the year and, as we found in this study, erisilkworm can be successfully reared on banyan leaves, so considering the rearing performance of the Eri silkworm on banyan leaves future investigation can be carried out to identify the best secondary food plant for the erisilkworm among banyan, barkessuru, papaya, and other secondary host plants of Eri silkworm.